System and method to facilitate real-time communications and content sharing among users over a network

ABSTRACT

A system and method to facilitate real-time communications and content sharing among users over a network are described. In one preferred embodiment, multiple links to content information are dynamically generated for a sender user. Responsive to selection of a link by the sender user, the link and associated metadata information are communicated to at least one recipient user engaged in the real-time communication session with the sender user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Serial No. 60/428,217, filed on Nov. 22, 2002 andentitled “MUSICNET.”

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The invention relates generally to the field of network-basedcommunications and, more particularly, to a system and method tofacilitate real-time communications and content sharing among users overa network, such as the Internet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The explosive growth of the Internet as a publication andinteractive communication platform has created an electronic environmentthat is changing the way business is transacted and the wayentertainment is perceived. As the Internet becomes increasinglyaccessible around the world, communications among users increaseexponentially.

[0004] Several attempts have been made to facilitate such network-basedcommunications, namely to provide software packages residing on acomputer and configured, for example, to acquire digital content fromcontent providers over a network, such as the Internet, and tofacilitate sharing of the digital content among the users. However, theincreased popularity of some of these software packages may give rise tolegal problems in the areas of ownership and protection of the acquireddigital content. For example, many of the current content sharingsoftware applications rely on anonymous usage. Thus, there is anincreased risk of unauthorized use of the content in violation ofcontent protection laws.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] A system and method to facilitate real-time communications andcontent sharing among users over a network are described. In onepreferred embodiment, multiple links to content information aredynamically generated for a sender user. Responsive to selection of alink by the sender user, the link and associated metadata informationare communicated to at least one recipient user engaged in the real-timecommunication session with the sender user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary network-basedcontent transaction and communications facility, which facilitatescontent sharing among users according to the invention;

[0007]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary database,maintained by and accessed via a database server, which at leastpartially implements and supports the network-based content transactionand communications facility according to the invention;

[0008]FIG. 3 is an interaction diagram illustrating a sequence ofinteractions to facilitate real-time communications and content sharingamong users over the network according to an exemplary embodiment of theinvention;

[0009] FIGS. 4A-E illustrate exemplary interfaces to facilitatereal-time communications and content sharing among users over thenetwork;

[0010]FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary environment inwhich the interaction sequence illustrated in FIG. 3 may be employedaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0011]FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method to facilitatereal-time communications and content sharing among users over a networkaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and

[0012]FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in theexemplary form of a computer system within which a set of instructionsmay be executed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary network-basedcontent transaction and communications facility 10, which facilitatescontent sharing among users. While an exemplary embodiment of theinvention is described within the context of a content transaction andcommunications facility, it will be appreciated by those skilled in theart that the invention will find application in many different types ofcomputer-based, and network-based, commerce facilities.

[0014] The facility 10 includes one or more of a number of types offront-end servers, namely page servers 12, which deliver web pages tomultiple users, e.g. markup language documents, picture servers 14,which dynamically deliver images to be displayed within the web pages,content servers 16, which dynamically deliver content information to theusers, such as, for example, audio and video data, processing servers inthe exemplary form of Common Gateway Interface (CGI) or Internet ServerApplication Program Interface (ISAPI) servers 18, which provide anintelligent interface to the back-end of the facility 10, and processingsearch servers 20, which handle search requests to the facility 10. Inaddition, the facility 10 includes real-time communication servers 21that provide, inter alia, automated real-time communications, such as,for example, instant messaging (IM) functionality, to/from users of thefacility 10, and electronic mail (email) servers (not shown), whichprovide automated email communications to/from users.

[0015] The facility 10 further includes one or more back-end servers,for example, a database server 22, a search indexer server 24, and acredit card database server 26, each of which maintains and facilitatesaccess to a respective database 23. The network-based contenttransaction facility 10 may be accessed by a client program 30, such asa browser, e.g. the Internet Explorer browser distributed by MicrosoftCorporation of Redmond, Wash., that executes on a client machine 32 andaccesses the facility 10 via a network 34, such as, for example, theInternet. Other examples of networks that a client may utilize to accessthe facility 10 includes a wide area network (WAN), a local area network(LAN), a wireless network, e.g. a cellular network, the Plain OldTelephone Service (POTS) network, or other known networks.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary database 23,maintained by and accessed via a database server, which at leastpartially implements and supports the network-based content transactionand communications facility 10. The database 23 may, in one embodiment,be implemented as a relational database, and includes a number of tableshaving entries, or records, that are linked by indices and keys. In analternative embodiment, the database 23 may be implemented as acollection of objects in an object-oriented database.

[0017] Central to the database 23 shown in FIG. 2 is a user table 40,which contains records for each entity or user of the facility 10. Thedatabase 23 also includes an accounts table 80, which may be linked tothe user table 40 and may be populated with account information relatedto each user of the network-based facility 10.

[0018] The database 23 may include a number of other tables, which mayalso be shown to be linked to the user table 40, for example, tablesspecifically provided to enable an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. One or more content preferences tables 70 are configured tostore user-generated content preferences and/or selections, part of auser profile constructed and stored for each user. One or more presetstables 60 are configured to store another portion of each user profile,which includes user-generated media presets, such as, for example, radiostation presets accessed by each specific user and radio station presetsreported as preferred by each user. One or more user groups tables 50are configured to store user-generated content group lists, each listgrouping users interested in similar content, for example usersinterested in particular audio files and/or video files. Finally, one ormore content lists tables 90 are configured to store user-generatedcontent lists, each list grouping similar content items preferred by theparticular user, such as, for example, preferred audio files lists andvideo files lists. Prior to any communication between client 32 and thenetwork-based facility 10, each media preset and/or user preference isgenerated and stored in the respective tables 60, 70. In one embodiment,each user has continuous access to the user profile and may modify atanytime the content preferences, the media presets, the content grouplists, and the content lists.

[0019]FIG. 3 is an interaction diagram illustrating a sequence 100 ofinteractions to facilitate real-time communications and content sharingamong users, in the exemplary form of a sender user 101 and a recipientuser 102. FIGS. 4A-4E illustrate exemplary interfaces to facilitatereal-time communications and content sharing among users over thenetwork. While the sequence 100 describes a client-server environment,whereby communications between the sender and recipient users 101 and102 are facilitated by, or performed through, the network-based facility10, it will also be appreciated that the teachings of the invention maybe applied to a peer-to-peer environment, whereby the users 101 and 102communicate directly and not through the facility 10, or may be appliedto a client-server environment functioning over another real-timecommunications network.

[0020] As illustrated in FIG. 3, in one embodiment, the sequence 100commences at block 105 with selection by the sender user 101 of arecipient user 102 and a request to initiate a real-time communicationsession with the recipient user 102, such as, for example, an instantmessaging (IM) communication session. The recipient user 102 may beselected, in one embodiment, with a conventional mouse click commandfrom a user list, such as, for example, a drop-down list or a menu list,the list containing multiple users and user groups available toparticipate in the real-time communication session with the sender user101, for example online users capable of exchanging IM messages. Thefacility 10 uses the search servers 20 to locate and to retrieve theusers and the user groups from the respective user table 40 and usergroups tables 50, and further generates and displays the user listspecifically for the sender user 101. Alternatively, the user list mayalso include content lists stored in the content lists tables 90 andgenerated by each one of the users available to communicate in real-timewith the sender user 101, if those users have made their content listsavailable for sharing. Subsequently, the sender user 101 may select adesired content list and request content information from the respectiveuser associated with the selected content list.

[0021] In an alternate embodiment, the sender user 101 receives content,such as audio/video data, from the facility 10 in a content player, suchas, for example, the Windows Media Player available from MicrosoftCorporation of Redmond, Wash. Responsive to a conventional right-clickmouse command, the user list described above may be displayed in awindow for the sender user 101 to facilitate real-time communication ofthe content to the recipient user 102. Alternatively, using a genre orartist associated with the received content, the facility 10 filters theuser list of potential recipients to show only the users or user groupswho have demonstrated a preference for that genre, potentially by havingmade a purchase, or by a download or stream operation of similar contentbelonging to the same genre or artist. The sender user 101 furtherselects the recipient user 102 from the filtered user list. In yetanother alternate embodiment, the sender user 101 may select a recipientuser group from the user list and may request initiation of a real-timecommunication session with each user of the recipient user group that isavailable for real-time communications with the sender user 101.

[0022] At block 110, the facility 10 initiates the real-timecommunication session between the sender user 101 and the recipient user102 and displays a message window for the sender user 101 in a userinterface area. Referring to FIG. 4A, in one embodiment, the userinterface area 401 presented to the sender user 101 further includes themessage window 402, such as, for example, an IM message window, and anumber of command buttons, including a content sharing button 403, aSend button 404 to send the message to the recipient user 102, and aClose button 405 to close the user interface area 401.

[0023] As illustrated in FIG. 3, at block 115, the sender user 101selects the content sharing button 403 in the user interface area 401 torequest content information from the facility 10. Referring to FIG. 4A,in one embodiment, the user interface area 401 facilitates selection ofthe content sharing button 403 with a conventional mouse click commandand facilitates communication of the request to the facility 10.

[0024] As illustrated in FIG. 3, at block 120, the facility 10 uses thesearch servers 20 to conduct a search of the presets tables 60 and thecontent preferences tables 70 to locate and retrieve the user profile ofthe sender user 101, specifically the user-generated content preferencesand media presets, if any. In an alternate embodiment, the searchfurther extends to local directories of the client machine 32 of thesender user 101 for locally stored content, such as audio and/or videofiles designated to be shared with other users.

[0025] At block 125, the facility 10 dynamically generates multiplelinks to content information based on the retrieved content preferencesand media presets of the sender user 101. For example, in oneembodiment, if the sender user 101 has programmed media presets, such asradio station presets, but has not generated any content preferences,the facility 10 generates links for the media presets and, if necessary,generates additional links corresponding to its recommendations, based,for example, on the popularity of the content suggested. Alternatively,if the sender user 101 has generated both content preferences and mediapresets, the facility 10 generates an equal number of links for thecontent preferences and for the media presets. In yet another alternateembodiment, if the sender user 101 has generated content preferences,but not media presets, the facility 10 generates links for the contentpreferences and, if necessary, generates additional links correspondingto its recommendations. Finally, if the sender user 101 has notprogrammed either the content preferences or the media presets, thefacility 10 generates multiple links based on its content suggestions orbased on a profile of the sender user 101 built by the facility 10 andbased on frequency of access of the content data.

[0026] Similarly, in an alternate embodiment, the facility 10 maydynamically generate links to other content information designated bythe sender user 101 as available for sharing, such as, for example,locally stored content, stored pictures, images, or other types ofcontent information.

[0027] At block 130, the generated links and associated metadata aredisplayed in a content window for the sender user 101. Referring to FIG.4B, in one embodiment, a content window 406 is presented to the senderuser 101, the content window 406 displaying the facility-generated linksto content information. The content window 406 further includes a pairof command icons corresponding to each displayed link, for example aWatch (for video data), Listen (for audio data), or Audio (for a radiostation preset) icon 407 and a Share icon 408, actionable through aconventional mouse click command. The content window 406 facilitatesselection of an option to play the respective content in a correspondingmedia player via icons 407, or, respectively, an option to share thecontent with the recipient user 102 via the Share icon 408. In analternate embodiment, if links to other types of content information aredynamically generated and displayed for the sender user 101, appropriatecommand icons may be provided in the content window 406 to facilitateoptions to access the content with respective content viewers or playersor to share it with other users.

[0028] As illustrated in FIG. 3, at block 135, the sender user 101selects a link to be transmitted to the recipient user 102 through amouse click on the Share icon 408 of the respective link. At block 140,the selected link is automatically inserted in the message window 402.Referring to FIG. 4C, the facility 10 automatically inserts the selectedlink and its associated metadata into the message window 402. In oneembodiment, the associated metadata includes data pertaining to thecontent information associated with the link. For example, for a link toan audio file, such as a song track, or a video file, the associatedmetadata includes the artist's name, the title of the song, the title ofthe album, and one or more images. In an alternate embodiment, theinsertion of a link to locally stored content of the sender user 101would display the content file name and a request to the recipient user102 to enter into a peer-to-peer download transmission of the selectedlocally stored content.

[0029] Finally, as illustrated in FIG. 3, at block 145, the facility 10automatically transmits the real-time IM message containing the selectedlink and associated metadata to the recipient user 102. In an alternateembodiment, if the sender user 101 already receives content, such asaudio/video data, from the facility 10 in a content player, subsequentto the selection of a recipient user 102 from the user list and thedisplay of the message window 402 in the user interface area 401, thefacility 10 automatically generates a content link to the contentreceived by the sender user 101, inserts the link in the message window402, and transmits the content link and its associated metadata to theselected recipient user 102.

[0030] In one embodiment, the real-time IM message containing theselected link and associated metadata is communicated to the recipientuser 102 through the communication servers 21 of the facility 10. Uponreceipt of the message, the recipient user 102 may accept the contentassociated with the transmitted link and subsequently download or streamthe content through the content servers 16 of the facility 10. Referringto FIG. 4D, by clicking on the link with a conventional mouse clickcommand, the recipient user 102 may open a media player window 409 anddownload or stream the associated content.

[0031] Alternatively, the recipient user 102 may sample the associatedcontent information for a predetermined amount of time and decidewhether to accept or decline the content. In another alternateembodiment, the recipient user 102 may review the metadata associatedwith the transmitted link and make a decision on whether to accept ordecline the content. Referring to FIG. 4E, the metadata is displayed ina real-time IM message window 410 for the recipient user 102 and allowsthe user 102 to see the information associated with the contentcommunicated by the sender user 101. In one embodiment, the messagewindow 410 further includes multiple option links, such as, for example,a Buy option link 411 to facilitate purchase of the content from thefacility 10, a Discuss option link 412 to facilitate discussion amongusers related to the respective content, and a Listen to additionalcontent option link 413 to facilitate retrieval of similar content fromthe content servers 16. The message window 410 facilitates selection ofan option link by the recipient user 102 with a conventional mouse clickcommand and allows real-time communication with the facility 10.

[0032]FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary environment inwhich the interaction sequence illustrated in FIG. 3 may be employed. Asillustrated in FIG. 5, client machines 32 are shown to reside outsidethe context of a network-based transaction and communications facility,such as the exemplary facility 10 shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, thisembodiment describes an application which allows a sender user 101 of aclient machine 32, such as the first client machine 32, to communicatein real-time and to share content with a recipient user 102 of a furtherclient machine 32, such as the second client machine 32, both of whichreside outside the facility 10 or any other transaction facility.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 5, the sender user 101 selects the recipientuser 102 in a client/browser 322 that executes in the first clientmachine 32 and requests a real-time communication session with therecipient user 102. The recipient user 102 may be selected, in oneembodiment, with a conventional mouse click command from a user listcontaining multiple users and user groups available to communicate inreal-time with the sender user 101. The search servers 20 within thefacility 10 search the user table 40 and the user groups tables 50within the database 23 coupled to the database server 22 using searchfunctions 205 to locate and retrieve the users and the user groups, andtransmit the data to the communication servers 21. The communicationservers 21 use message generation functions 215 and transmissionfunctions 217 to generate and to present the user list specifically forthe sender user 101 in the client/browser 322.

[0034] Alternatively, the user list may also include content listsstored in the content lists tables 90 and generated by each one of theusers available to communicate in real-time with the sender user 101, ifthose users have made their content lists available for sharing.Subsequently, the sender user 101 may select a desired content list andrequest content information from the respective user associated with theselected content list. In another alternate embodiment, the sender user101 receives content, such as audio/video data, from the content servers16 within the facility 10 in a content player, and, responsive to aconventional right-click mouse command, the user list may be displayedfor the sender user 101 in a window or an interactive field within thecontent player. Alternatively, using the genre or artist associated withthe received content, the search servers 20 search the user database 23and filter the user list of potential recipients to show only the usersor user groups who have demonstrated a preference for that genre,potentially by having made a purchase, or by a download or streamoperation of similar content belonging to the same genre or artist. Thesender user 101 further selects the recipient user 102 from the filtereduser list.

[0035] In one embodiment, the communication servers 21 initiate thereal-time communication session between the sender user 101 and therecipient user 102 and display a message window 324, such as, forexample, an IM message window, in a user interface area 325 within theclient/browser 322. The user interface area 325 facilitatescommunication of a request for content information to the communicationservers 21 and further to the search servers 20 of the facility 10. Thesearch servers 20 use the search functions 205 to conduct a search ofthe presets tables 60 and the content preferences tables 70 within thedatabase 23 in order to locate and retrieve the user profile of thesender user 101, specifically the user-generated content preferences andmedia presets, if any. Subsequently, using the message generationfunctions 215, the communication servers 21 dynamically generatemultiple links to content information based on the retrieved contentpreferences and media presets of the sender user 101. Alternatively, thecommunication servers 21 may dynamically generate links to other contentinformation designated by the sender user 101 as available for sharing,such as, for example, locally stored content, stored pictures, images,or other types of content information.

[0036] Furthermore, the communication servers 21 use the transmissionfunctions 217 to display the generated links and associated metadata ina content window (not shown) in the client/browser 322. The contentwindow facilitates selection of an option to play the respective contentin a corresponding media player or, respectively, an option to share thecontent with the recipient user 102.

[0037] In one embodiment, the sender user 101 selects a link to betransmitted to the recipient user 102 in the message window 324 and thefirst client machine 32 communicates the link to the communicationservers 21. The communication servers 21 use the message generationfunctions 215 to insert automatically the selected link and itsassociated metadata into the message window 324 and use the transmissionfunctions 217 to send the real-time IM message containing the selectedlink and associated metadata to the recipient user 102. The message isshown to be communicated to the communication servers 21 and further tothe recipient user 102. Specifically, the message may be communicated,in one embodiment, as a real-time instant message or by utilizing anyother transfer protocol or communication.

[0038] In an alternate embodiment, if the sender user 101 alreadyreceives content, such as audio/video data, from the content servers 16of the facility 10, subsequent to the selection of a recipient user 102from the user list and the display of the message window 324 in the userinterface area 325, the communication servers 21 automatically generatea content link to the content received by the sender user 101, insertthe link in the message window 324, and transmit the link and itsassociated metadata to the selected recipient user 102 using thetransmission functions 217.

[0039] In one embodiment, the real-time IM message containing theselected link and associated metadata is communicated to the recipientuser 102 through the communication servers 21 of the facility 10 and isdisplayed in a message window 328 within the client/browser 326 of thesecond client machine 32. Upon receipt of the message, the recipientuser 102 may accept the content associated with the transmitted link andsubsequently download or stream the content through the content servers16 of the facility 10.

[0040] Alternatively, the recipient user 102 may sample the associatedcontent information for a predetermined amount of time via the contentservers 16 and decide whether to accept or decline the content. Inanother alternate embodiment, the recipient user 102 may review themetadata associated with the link and decide whether to accept ordecline the content. The metadata may be displayed in the message window328 for the recipient user 102 and allows the user 102 to see theinformation associated with the content communicated by the sender user101.

[0041]FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method to facilitatereal-time communications and content sharing among users over a network.As illustrated in FIG. 6, at processing block 610, selection of therecipient user 102 and a request for initiation of a real-timecommunication session is received from the sender user 101.

[0042] At processing block 620, the communication session is initiatedbetween the sender user 101 and the recipient user 102 and a messagewindow 402 is displayed in a user interface area 401 for the sender user101. At processing block 630, in response to the selection of a contentsharing button 403 within the user interface area 401, a user profile ofthe sender user 101 containing user-generated content preferences anduser-generated media presets is retrieved.

[0043] At processing block 640, multiple links to content informationare generated based on the retrieved content preferences and mediapresets, and on facility-generated recommendations. At processing block650, the links and associated metadata are displayed in a content windowfor the sender user 101.

[0044] At processing block 660, in response to selection of a link to betransmitted to the recipient user 102, the selected link and itsassociated metadata are automatically inserted into the message windowand the real-time message containing the selected link is transmitted tothe recipient user 102.

[0045]FIG. 7 shows a diagrammatic representation of a machine in theexemplary form of a computer system 300 within which a set ofinstructions, for causing the machine to perform any one of themethodologies discussed above, may be executed. In alternativeembodiments, the machine may comprise a network router, a networkswitch, a network bridge, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellulartelephone, a web appliance or any machine capable of executing asequence of instructions that specify actions to be taken by thatmachine.

[0046] The computer system 300 includes a processor 302, a main memory304 and a static memory 306, which communicate with each other via a bus308. The computer system 300 may further include a video display unit310, e.g. a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT).The computer system 300 also includes an alphanumeric input device 312,e.g, a keyboard, a cursor control device 314, e.g. a mouse, a disk driveunit 316, a signal generation device 18, e.g. a speaker, and a networkinterface device 320.

[0047] The disk drive unit 316 includes a machine-readable medium 324 onwhich is stored a set of instructions, i.e. software, 326 embodying anyone, or all, of the methodologies described above. The software 326 isalso shown to reside, completely or at least partially, within the mainmemory 304 and/or within the processor 302. The software 326 may furtherbe transmitted or received via the network interface device 320.

[0048] It is to be understood that embodiments of this invention may beused as or to support software programs executed upon some form ofprocessing core (such as the CPU of a computer) or otherwise implementedor realized upon or within a machine or computer readable medium. Amachine readable medium includes any mechanism for storing ortransmitting information in a form readable by a machine, e.g. acomputer. For example, a machine readable medium includes read-onlymemory (ROM); random access memory (RAM); magnetic disk storage media;optical storage media; flash memory devices; electrical, optical,acoustical or other form of propagated signals, e.g. carrier waves,infrared signals, digital signals, etc.; or any other type of mediasuitable for storing or transmitting information.

[0049] In the foregoing specification, the invention has been describedwith reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will,however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be madethereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of theinvention as set forth in the appended claims. The specification anddrawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative senserather than a restrictive sense.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method to facilitate exchange of content among entities during a real-time communications session over a network, said method comprising the steps of: dynamically generating a plurality of links to content information for a sender user; and responsive to selection of a link of said plurality of links, communicating said link and associated metadata information to at least one recipient user engaged in said real-time communication session with said sender user.
 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: presenting a user list to said sender user to enable selection of said at least one recipient user, said user list containing said at least one recipient user; and receiving said selection of said at least one recipient user and a request to initiate said real-time communication session.
 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein, prior to said selection of said at least one recipient user, said at least one recipient user is available to participate in said real-time communication session.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said generating further comprises the steps of: receiving a request for said content information from said sender user; retrieving user-generated content preferences and user-generated media presets associated with said sender user from a user database; and generating said plurality of links based on said user-generated content preferences, said user-generated media presets, and other content recommendations.
 5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: presenting said plurality of links in a content window to enable selection of said link by said sender user.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said communicating further comprises the steps of: inserting said link and said associated metadata in a real-time message displayed in a message window for said sender user; and transmitting said real-time message to said at least one recipient user.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said real-time communication session is an instant messaging communication session.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said associated metadata information includes data pertaining to said content information to enable said at least one recipient user to review said data and to make a decision whether to accept or decline said content information.
 9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: transmitting said content information to said sender user; and responsive to a request to communicate said content information to said at least one recipient user, generating a content link to said transmitted content information and communicating said content link and associated metadata information to said at least one recipient user.
 10. The method according to claim 2, wherein said presenting further comprises the steps of: locating said at least one recipient user available to participate in said real-time communication session in said user database; and retrieving said at least one recipient user to generate said user list.
 11. A method to facilitate content sharing among entities during a real-time communications session over a network, said method comprising the steps of: facilitating selection of a link to content information from a plurality of links displayed for a sender user in a content window; and facilitating real-time communication of said link and associated metadata information to at least one recipient user engaged in said real-time communication session with said sender user.
 12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of: presenting a user list containing said at least one recipient user to said sender user; and facilitating selection of said at least one recipient user from said user list.
 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein, prior to said selection of said at least one recipient user, said at least one recipient user is available to participate in said real-time communication session.
 14. The method according to claim 11, wherein said real-time communication session is an instant messaging communication session.
 15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of: facilitating initiation of said real-time communication session; and presenting a user interface area containing a real-time message window to said sender user.
 16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of: facilitating selection of a content sharing button in said user interface area; and responsive to said selection, dynamically generating said plurality of links based on user-generated content preferences, user-generated media presets, and other content recommendations.
 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein generating said plurality of links further comprises the steps of: receiving a request for said content information from said sender user; and retrieving said user-generated content preferences and said user-generated media presets associated with said sender user from a user database.
 18. The method according to claim 11, wherein said associated metadata information includes data pertaining to said content information to enable said at least one recipient user to review said data and to make a decision whether to accept or decline said content information.
 19. The method according to claim 12, wherein presenting said user list further comprises the steps of: locating said at least one recipient user available to participate in said real-time communication session in a user database; and retrieving said at least one recipient user to generate said user list.
 20. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of: facilitating access to said content information by said sender user; and responsive to said sender user accessing said content information, facilitating transmission of a request to communicate said content information to said at least one recipient user.
 21. A machine-readable medium containing executable instructions, which, when executed in a processing system, cause said processing system to perform a method to facilitate exchange of content among entities during a real-time communications session over a network, said method comprising the steps of: dynamically generating a plurality of links to content information for a sender user; and responsive to selection of a link of said plurality of links, communicating said link and associated metadata information to at least one recipient user engaged in said real-time communication session with said sender user.
 22. The machine-readable medium according to claim 21, wherein said method further comprises the steps of: presenting a user list to said sender user to enable selection of said at least one recipient user, said user list containing said at least one recipient user; and receiving said selection of said at least one recipient user and a request to initiate said real-time communication session.
 23. The machine-readable medium according to claim 22, wherein, prior to said selection of said at least one recipient user, said at least one recipient user is available to participate in said real-time communication session.
 24. The machine-readable medium according to claim 21, wherein said generating further comprises the steps of: receiving a request for said content information from said sender user; retrieving user-generated content preferences and user-generated media presets associated with said sender user from a user database; and generating said plurality of links based on said user-generated content preferences, said user-generated media presets, and other content recommendations.
 25. The machine-readable medium according to claim 21, wherein said method further comprises the steps of: presenting said plurality of links in a content window to enable selection of said link by said sender user.
 26. The machine-readable medium according to claim 21, wherein said communicating further comprises the steps of: inserting said link and said associated metadata in a real-time message displayed in a message window for said sender user; and transmitting said real-time message to said at least one recipient user.
 27. The machine-readable medium according to claim 21, wherein said real-time communication session is an instant messaging communication session.
 28. The machine-readable medium according to claim 21, wherein said associated metadata information includes data pertaining to said content information to enable said at least one recipient user to review said data and to make a decision whether to accept or decline said content information.
 29. The machine-readable medium according to claim 21, wherein said method further comprises the steps of: transmitting said content information to said sender user; and responsive to a request to communicate said content information to said at least one recipient user, generating a content link to said transmitted content information, and communicating said content link and associated metadata information to said at least one recipient user.
 30. The machine-readable medium according to claim 22, wherein said presenting further comprises the steps of: locating said at least one recipient user available to participate in said real-time communication session in said user database; and retrieving said at least one recipient user to generate said user list.
 31. A machine-readable medium containing executable instructions, which, when executed in a processing system, cause said processing system to perform a method to facilitate exchange of content among entities during a real-time communications session over a network, said method comprising the steps of: facilitating selection of a link to content information from a plurality of links displayed for a sender user in a content window; and facilitating real-time communication of said link and associated metadata information to at least one recipient user engaged in said real-time communication session with said sender user.
 32. The machine-readable medium according to claim 31, wherein said method further comprises the steps of: presenting a user list containing said at least one recipient user to said sender user; and facilitating selection of said at least one recipient user from said user list.
 33. The machine-readable medium according to claim 32, wherein, prior to said selection of said at least one recipient user, said at least one recipient user is available to participate in said real-time communication session.
 34. The machine-readable medium according to claim 31, wherein said real-time communication session is an instant messaging communication session.
 35. The machine-readable medium according to claim 31, wherein said method further comprises the steps of: facilitating initiation of said real-time communication session; and presenting a user interface area containing a real-time message window to said sender user.
 36. The machine-readable medium according to claim 35, wherein said method further comprises the steps of: facilitating selection of a content sharing button in said user interface area; and responsive to said selection, dynamically generating said plurality of links based on user-generated content preferences, user-generated media presets, and other content recommendations.
 37. The machine-readable medium according to claim 36, wherein generating said plurality of links further comprises the steps of: receiving a request for said content information from said sender user; and retrieving said user-generated content preferences and said user-generated media presets associated with said sender user from a user database.
 38. The machine-readable medium according to claim 31, wherein said associated metadata information includes data pertaining to said content information to enable said at least one recipient user to review said data and to make a decision whether to accept or decline said content information.
 39. The machine-readable medium according to claim 32, wherein presenting said user list further comprises the steps of: locating said at least one recipient user available to participate in said real-time communication session in a user database; and retrieving said at least one recipient user to generate said user list.
 40. The machine-readable medium according to claim 31, further comprising the steps of: facilitating access to said content information by said sender user; and responsive to said sender user accessing said content information, facilitating transmission of a request to communicate said content information to said at least one recipient user.
 41. A system to facilitate exchange of content among entities during a real-time communications session over a network, said system comprising: means for dynamically generating a plurality of links to content information for a sender user; and responsive to selection of a link of said plurality of links, means for communicating said link and associated metadata information to at least one recipient user engaged in said real-time communication session with said sender user.
 42. The system according to claim 41, further comprising: means for receiving a request for said content information from said sender user; means for retrieving user-generated content preferences and user-generated media presets associated with said sender user from a user database; and means for generating said plurality of links based on said user-generated content preferences, said user-generated media presets, and other content recommendations.
 43. A system to facilitate content sharing among entities during a real-time communications session over a network, said system comprising: means for facilitating selection of a link to content information from a plurality of links displayed for a sender user in a content window; and means for facilitating real-time communication of said link and associated metadata information to at least one recipient user engaged in said real-time communication session with said sender user.
 44. The system according to claim 43, further comprising: means for facilitating initiation of said real-time communication session; and means for presenting a user interface area containing a real-time message window to said sender user.
 45. The system according to claim 44, further comprising: means for facilitating selection of a content sharing button in said user interface area; and responsive to said selection, means for dynamically generating said plurality of links based on user-generated content preferences, user-generated media presets, and other content recommendations.
 46. A system to facilitate content sharing among entities during a real-time communications session over a network, said system comprising: at least one processing server to generate dynamically a plurality of links to content information for a sender user; and at least one communications server coupled to said at least one processing server to communicate said link and associated metadata information to at least one recipient user engaged in said real-time communication session with said sender user, in response to selection of a link of said plurality of links.
 47. The system according to claim 46, wherein said at least one communications server further presents a user list to said sender user to enable selection of said at least one recipient user, said user list containing said at least one recipient user, and receives said selection of said at least one recipient user and a request to initiate said real-time communication session.
 48. The system according to claim 47, wherein, prior to said selection of said at least one recipient user, said at least one recipient user is available to participate in said real-time communication session.
 49. The system according to claim 46, wherein said at least one processing server further: receives a request for said content information from said sender user; retrieves user-generated content preferences and user-generated media presets associated with said sender user from a user database; and generates said plurality of links based on said user-generated content preferences, said user-generated media presets, and other content recommendations.
 50. The system according to claim 46, wherein said at least one communications server further presents said plurality of links in a content window to enable selection of said link by said sender user.
 51. The system according to claim 46, wherein said at least one processing server further inserts said link and said associated metadata in a real-time message displayed in a message window for said sender user, and said at least one communications server further transmits said real-time message to said at least one recipient user.
 52. The system according to claim 46, wherein said real-time communication session is an instant messaging communication session.
 53. The system according to claim 46, wherein said associated metadata information includes data pertaining to said content information to enable said at least one recipient user to review said data and to make a decision whether to accept or decline said content information.
 54. The system according to claim 46, wherein said at least one communications server further transmits said content information to said sender user, responsive to a request to communicate said content information to said at least one recipient user, said at least one processing server further generates a content link to said transmitted content information, and said at least one communications server further communicates said content link and associated metadata information to said at least one recipient user.
 55. The system according to claim 47, wherein said at least one processing server further locates said at least one recipient user available to participate in said real-time communication session in said user database, and retrieves said at least one recipient user to generate said user list. 